![]() ![]() Stamping and tinting concrete will cost more than regular poured concrete, but depending on the type of treatments, it will cost less than pavers or brick. Stamped concrete can look nice, but it looks like stamped concrete, not genuine stone or brick. The concrete can be stamped and colored to give an appearance more like bricks, pavers or stone. To warm up the usual plain, gray, smooth look of concrete, you might consider stamped or tinted concrete. Finally, concrete can have a very industrial or stark look and may not be very attractive with a more traditional house. You can get concrete slabs power washed, but just realize that will be an extra cost down the road. Poured concrete may not be the best choice if your patio will be over plumbing or electrical lines because at lease part of the patio will need to be removed if those lines need to be repaired.Īnother drawback is that most concrete will stain or get dirty over time. And although almost all concrete surfaces will crack over time, improperly mixed concrete is even more prone to cracking. ![]() The drawbacks of concrete patios and decks are that the actual mixing of the concrete can be tricky, since the process must be done to exact specifications for the best results. And finally, those spaces between pavers can also make it difficult to walk in high heels, which is definitely not a good thing if you plan on having lots fancy outdoor parties. Another con? The spaces between the pavers are prone to weed growth, especially if the pavers are not installed properly. Also, some concrete pavers have only surface pigments that can fade over time and when scratched can reveal the bare, unstained concrete beneath the surface pigment. So those are the advantages concrete pavers, let’s talk about the disadvantages.ĭue to their strict geometric shapes, there are a limited number of deck patterns that can be created with pavers. This decreases the risk of soil erosion and decreases the risk of water flowing toward the home’s foundation. They allow rainwater to filter through and seep back into the soil slowly instead of quickly running off the patio surface. Permeable concrete pavers are also available for ground level patios. That give allows pavers to shift slightly instead of cracking. When set in sand, the pavers have a little bit of give, so they can withstand changes in temperature and loads. This ability to fairly easily remove and replace pavers is particularly advantageous for pool decking, just in case you need to get to pool pipes that lie beneath the decking material. Since most pavers are laid as separate units, individual pavers can be replaced if damaged without significantly disturbing the rest of the patio. Pavers come in a variety of colors and shapes. That dense concrete is compacted to form individual units that can mimic brick or natural stone. Next let’s talk about concrete pavers, which often have a look similar to natural stone without all the expense.Ĭoncrete pavers are made of concrete that’s denser than poured concrete. Finally, stone can be heavy and it’s usually the most expensive option. In addition, the gaps between the stone pieces are prone to weed growth. Stone has irregular surfaces that make walking on it challenging, especially for small children, the elderly and women in high heels. Although most homeowners are attracted to the look and durability of stone, it does have some disadvantages. And stone flooring is a good option if your patio has bends, curves or an unusual shape since stone can be cut to fit around curves and mortar can be used to fill in gaps. Natural stone will last longer and hold its color better than any of the other material. The American Society of Landscape Architects recommends choosing a stone that’s native to your region because it will be stable in your climate and it will blend in seamlessly with your environment. Natural stone such as slate, quartzite, bluestone, travertine and limestone can be used for the flooring of patios and sometimes for decks.
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